No, there are no plans to build Britain’s largest Muslim-only cemetery

In early September, several media outlets reported that Solihull council received two separate applications for Muslim cemeteries near the village of Catherine-de-Barnes.

The Times and Daily Mail focused upon local outrage as the BBC dedicated less than 100 words to the story. But all three overemphasise the Muslim-only angle.

Cemetery Development Services submitted both applications on behalf of two clients. In a statement, their Managing Director, Justin Smith stated:

“There are two different applicants with two different sites in proximity to each other, with each application viewed on its own merits. Whilst they are predominantly for Muslim burials due to the regional demand, both applications do not exclude other denominations from using them.

The important figure is not the total number of burial plots but the average annual burial number, which in both cases, is between 70 – 150 per annum.

As British citizens, the Muslim community have the same right to burial as any other British resident.”

So it boils down to an issue of demand. Data from the latest census confirms that Solihull’s Muslim population did greatly increase since 2001. Yet, that figure only represents 5,247 residents (2.5 per cent).

Solihull still overwhelmingly identifies as White British, but individuals from minority backgrounds went up by 11,638 (108 per cent). Diversity naturally brings a diversity of faith, as the number of Sikhs and Hindus increased. Neither group (nor Solihull’s shrinking Christian population) are excluded from the cemetery proposals.

ITV did highlight the multi-faith aspect of one cemetery application (but not the other).

The local debate around ‘Muslim cemeteries’ began in January this year, when the first application went to Solihull council.